Context: 3D printer market has first shaky quarter

Analyst's latest figures reveal growth is weaker in the second quarter than in the previous four quarters

The 3D printer market saw the first ever sequential decline in unit shipments for the second quarter of 2015, according to Context’s latest figures.

This decline will strike a blow for HP, which is set to launch a dedicated 3D print unit as part of the new HP Inc when the company splits into two in November.

According to Context, growth in the desktop/personal segment of the 3D printer market continued in Q2 2015, while the industrial/professional segment stalled. The number of desktop/personal 3D printers shipped worldwide was 25 per cent more than in Q2 2014.

This is compared with a more than 90 per cent increase year on year over the previous four quarters.

Chris Connery, vice president for global research at Context, said: “The nascent market of desktop/personal 3D printers continues to change and evolve each quarter. In the current landscape, shipments from the best-known brands are not the best leading indicator of total global demand. However, customers are voting with their dollars by backing crowdsourced efforts and maturing global distribution.”

Context also said most of the growth came from new players, rather than from familiar brands, with market share shifting.

Taiwan’s XYZPrinting has grabbed the top spot, with China’s Shining3D listed as a player to watch. Previous market darlings Stratasys (MakerBot) and 3D Systems (Cube/Cubify) were labelled as struggling during the quarter.

Reasons for the drop in performance included the "over-hyping" of the technology in recent years, followed by increased printer sales, Context said. Looking ahead, Context predicted that the desktop/personal segment is on track for a year-on-year unit growth rate of more than 50 per cent for 2014/15, but the industrial/professional segment may see only single-digit growth rates.

Regional shipments will continue to be strongest in North America, particularly in the desktop/personal space, but Asia-Pac is looking strong in terms of shipments, and the analyst said there could well be some "regional share-shift" in the near term.

EMEA is also in a strong position for growth, with new or expanded B2B and B2C distribution from players such as ABCData, Exertis, MediaWorld, Midwich and Pico, among others.